Monday, November 9, 2015

We are thankful for the partnership with Jeff State. Currently our CHHS students are completing Nonpaid Community Based Work Instruction in the Nursing Dept. and Bookstore. The students sorted, alphabetized, and filed paperwork in the Nursing Department. They also assisted the Bookstore by cleaning and stocking.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

A native of Birmingham, Timothy Alexander,graduated from Erwin High School in 2007, where he was ranked number #8 in the state in football and dreamed of playing in the NFL. Timothy embarked on a bigger challenge in life, when he was in a horrific car wreck that left him paralyzed from the neck down. He now is dedicating his life to motivating and inspiring others. We are so grateful that he took the time to share his inspirational story with our YAiT students! Twitter: @1stN2ndTimothy

Friday, October 23, 2015

YAiT Grant- We got to announce to the students that we were just rewarded a $13,000.00 grant from the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities to fund "Young Adults in Transition Model for Multi-School Systems."

Gwen Brown is a peer advocate with Disability Rights & Resources (DRR). She is also the mother of three children; one with autism and one with sickle cell disease.
Her mission is to empower people with disAbilities to fully participate in their school and community.
Mrs. Brown is a great resource for our students and their parents!

Dr. Frank Buck helped us learn how practical and easy it can be to get organized.

Dr. Buck helps people achieve their goals through organization and time management. He is a veteran school administrator, speaker, and writer. Most of all, he has shown countless educators and business people an easier way to work. He shares these secrets with leaders all across the U.S. and into Canada. As a blogger for over a decade, he has helped countless readers from around the world.
Dr. Buck's newest book, the 2nd edition of Get Organized!: Time Management for School Leaders, is for you.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Home Plate Cooking provides delicious, homemade from scratch meals, that can go from your oven to the table in less than one hour.They also offer daily hotplate specials for dine-in or take-out.
5129 Highway 17
Helena, AL 35080(205) 621-6502 homeplatecooking.com
Cutting grapes for chicken salad and assisting with hot-plate meal preparation is the order of the day for our Work Instruction student.

Since the Mt Laurel Library now has their own beautiful, new facility, there is a need to re-sticker all inventory with the new building address. Our student is assisting in that endeavor working with everything from books to DVD's.

Monday, September 28, 2015

This family business has grown from a natural love for the land and nurturing the process to producing the finest cheeses, honey, specialty foods, botanicals, cosmetic extracts, and osmeceuticals. Honoring both her parents' and her grandparents' heritage, Deborah Stone founded Stone Hollow Farmstead in 1999 with her husband, Russell, and daughters, Fallon and Alexandra.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Shelby Co. students were honored to be a part of the inaugural JeffCo YAIT (Young Adults in Transition) meeting. We are very proud of our OMHS and CHHS students that spoke about their experiences in YAIT.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Since the Mt Laurel Library now has their own beautiful, new facility, there is a need to re-sticker all inventory with the new building address. Our student is assisting in that endeavor working with everything from books to DVD's.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Feeding hungry families...One smile at a time.. Alabama Childhood Food Solutions provides food to families in Shelby, Coosa, and South Talladega counties. Our students learn that it truly is "better to give than receive!"

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Thank you Jefferson State Community College for listening to how Shelby County Schools are impacting student's lives. We are excited about the possibility of bringing some of our students to work in various work settings at the Shelby-Hoover Campus. Some of the preliminary areas include the Culinary Program, Nursing Office, and the Pioneer Bookstore.

Friday, August 21, 2015

A wonderful morning of training hosted by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce for this year's Keeping It Real events. We are looking forward to another great year of partnering with the Chamber to teach Shelby Co. High School students about finances, budgeting, and transition skills.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Transition teams from around the state - consisting of transition professionals and consumers gathered for an intensive 3-day training and technical assistance program. This program included large group presentations, small group meetings, and networking and program development activities. The Transition Leadership Academy "TLA" offers assistance and guidance to transition practitioners and administrators as they set goals and develop plans to improve outcomes for students with disabilities in their secondary schools.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Students from Metro Birmingham area schools attended a "College Prep" program this summer at Samford University. This unique program, sponsored by Vocational Rehabilitation, helps prepare our college bound students. Chris Moore, Shelby Co. Work Instructor, spoke today about how dyslexia affected his life. See powerpoint for a personal testimony of how he overcame obstacles that confronted him throughout his life and how he "turned stumbling blocks into stepping stones."
He offered sound advice including some of his favorite quotes: "Failure is a detour, not a dead end street", " If there is no wind ROW", and "The snail reaches the ark." His motivational testimony showed the students that all things are possible.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

On June 17th- 19th the Alabama APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment) and ACDD (Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities) Conference was held in Mobile, Alabama. Professionals in the disability
arena as well as individuals with disabilities came together to not
only learn but have fun.

This year's conference featured a panel presentation featuring life
challenges- tragedies and triumphs -told from the perspective of
individuals with disabilities and their family members. Keynote speakers
were Jeff Steinberg, (With his distinctive style of humor and song,
reminded everyone that they are all a "Masterpiece in Progress"), Sue
Swenson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, and Derrick Tennant (reminded us that while we
all face significant obstacles in life, each can be used as an
opportunity to become better and stronger. We have the choice to "Love
our lives".) Daily breakout sessions were very informative and
beneficial in educating service providers/stakeholders and those
involved in disability advocacy

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Hibbett Sports
On June 3rd, the Shelby Co. Work Instructors, along with members of the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce, attended the 2nd quarter Industry Tour of Hibbett Distribution Center in Alabaster, Alabama. We learned about many exciting things that are taking place in this 412,000 ft. National distribution center.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

We are looking forward to a fall partnership with the Chelsea General Store. This is such an interesting place to work and visit. They have a range of items from a new line of Amish patio furniture, local jams and jellies, to army surplus items.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Students toured the Certified Nursing Training Program in Alabaster. It is an intensive two week course leading to CNA Board Certification. The students also learned about the CNA affiliation with Shelby Ridge Rehab and Nursing Facility and the job opportunities available there.

Monday, May 4, 2015

E&E Hardware -a throwback to a neighborhood general store of days gone by- specializes in everyday home hardware needs. Casey Crane, store owner, carries everything from light bulbs, air filters, garden supplies, and tools - to fishing rods and snow sleds. He assists our Work Instruction students in general store maintenance, receiving, unloading, and stocking of new inventory shipments.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Over 45 Shelby County Business leaders donated their time to participate in the 11th Annual Mock Interview that was held at the Shelby County Instructional Services Center. Cindy Vinson and Becky Goggins organized the event that brought in young adults from Pelham, Alabaster, Thompson, Project Search, and Shelby County Schools. Chris George from the Shelby County Sheriff's Department was the guest speaker.

Superintendent Randy Fuller, Shelby Co. Board member Peg Hill, and Taziki's Café owner, Keith Richards provided comic relief with an example of how NOT to interview. Mr. Richards was surprised when previous students, who are now employed by Taziki's, came back to honor him for his contribution and commitment over the years. We greatly appreciate all of our attendees' time and effort to help these students prepare themselves for the future.

The program, sponsored by Legacy Community Federal Credit Union, is an
opportunity for business professionals to share education/ training requirements, salary range,
workplace expectations and more needed to be employed in the respective career cluster fields.

Volunteers in the professions listed below addressed
students in the real world of work.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Our third YAIT meeting was held on April 17th at the Shelby Baptist Medical Resource Center. Students from five area Shelby County Schools and Project Search attended. The morning was filled with motivational and informative speakers. Special guests from the Alabama State Department of Special Education also attended the meeting.

The agenda contained such topics as "What's your label? " Watch the video and see how students are removing stigmas and labels that have been placed upon them.

Guest speaker Larry Thornton, owner of several Birmingham, AL area McDonald's, shared his motivational testimony about his personal experiences in dealing with labels others placed on him while growing up in the 1960's. Watch Mr. Thorton's Video.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Cheeriodicals is a small business site in the town of MT Laurel, Alabama. Our students learn to appreciate the hard work and commitment it takes to operate and work in a small business. While here, students assemble orders for personalized gift boxes for specific situations. Students learn to take direction, work with a boss, the importance of fulfilling detailed orders, and meeting shipping requirements. Also, they are taught the joy of providing a bit of happiness to someone, "in a cool green gift box."

If you are looking for a get well gift, something for children & teens, a new baby present, or an indulgent "design your own" gift then Cheriodicals is the place for you.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

The Jefferson/Shelby Business Advisory Council Meeting was held on 3/26.Mrs. Faye Rivers was kind enough to host the meeting at the beautiful Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa.

David Dionne from Red Mountain Park was the guest speaker and talked about his commitment to hiring individuals with disabilities.

The Council also learned about the new GATE Project in conjunction with UCP of Greater Birmingham.

A former student, Josh Fleagle, had some of his amazing art on display at the meeting. The Artisan Arch Foundation assists Josh in various projects as well as creates opportunities for special needs individuals with limited career potential in the mainstream market. To see more of Josh's work visit artisanarch.wix.com.

Josh's work was used to grace the cover of notepads, postcards, and Christmas Cards used at the hotel.

The Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa is a 259-room resort located in the suburb of Hoover, Al. Ross Bridge boasts the second longest golf course in the world and is one of three hotels in the state of Alabama to receive its four diamond rating from AAA. Travel + Leisure named it one of the top 500 hotels in the world.

The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum is the official state railroad museum of Alabama. Dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and operation of historically significant railway equipment, the museum is located at 1919 Ninth Street, Calera, Alabama. Students assist annually preparing for Major events such as Cotton Tails and Thomas the Train.